You can join Medicare when you first become eligible - for most people this will be on their 65th birthday.

This is called your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65.

Your Part A coverage starts on the first of the month you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first of the month, coverage starts the month before you turn 65.

You can sign up for Part A any time after you turn 65. Your Part A coverage starts 6 months back from when you sign up or when you apply for benefits from Social Security. Coverage can’t start earlier than the month you turned 65.

After your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you can only sign up for Part B and Premium-Part A during one of the other enrollment periods.

You can join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage Plans between October 15th - December 7th each year. This is called the Annual Election Period (AEP). Your new plan will be effective January 1st.

From January 1 – March 31 each year, if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare and join a separate Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) once during this time. Your new plan will be effective July 1st.

There are certain situations when you can sign up for Part B (and Premium-Part A) during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) without paying a late enrollment penalty. A Special Enrollment Period is only available for a limited time. If you don’t sign up during your SEP, you’ll have to wait for the next Open Enrollment Period and you might have to pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.